Editorial: Spitzer more interested in punishing his enemies

Friday

Jul 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMJul 27, 2007 at 10:04 PM

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. -- Eliot Spitzer promised progress, a departure from the status quo of dysfunctional New York government and an administration that would operate from the high ground of sound ethics and professional standards.

For release Sunday

Eliot Spitzer promised progress, a departure from the status quo of dysfunctional New York government and an administration that would operate from the high ground of sound ethics and professional standards.

He brought a message of hope and, as it turns out, one of hubris.

With a huge ethical scandal shadowing his efforts at reform, Spitzer has a new mandate: Strongly address the actions of staff members who sought to destroy a political nemesis and rebuild the trust that a majority of voters put in him.

This past week, an investigative report from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo charged that two top Spitzer aides plotted to discredit Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno by using the state police to recreate and release to a newspaper records that tracked Bruno's whereabouts. The investigation centered on Bruno's travel schedule and use of state aircraft, which opponents claimed was being used by the majority leader to attend Republican fundraisers.

The attorney general's subsequent report accused no one of breaking the law. But it did identify a serious breach of ethics. The scandal gives credibility to Spitzer's reputation as a bully and demonstrates he's more interested in punishing his enemies than tackling the real issues that are dragging down this state.

Spitzer now finds himself with three things he must immediately do to get his mandate back on track. They provide a tough challenge for someone who promised much and so far has delivered little.

- Fire those found to be responsible for the scheme. The attorney general's report says two Spitzer aides -- communications director Darren Dopp and homeland and public security chief William Howard -- hatched the scheme to discredit Bruno. Dopp is currently on suspension without pay, and Howard has been reassigned outside the governor's office. If others are found culpable, they must go, too.

- Stop wasting valuable time and energy on personal battles and start working on an agenda to revive the upstate economy -- as promised.

- Renew the pact with voters and do what the governor is elected to do. Spitzer can start with revisiting the agenda to address Upstate New York's economic woes. He also needs to visit our area to gain a meaningful understanding of the challenges. Late Friday, his office scheduled a visit with the O-D editorial board for Tuesday.

Spitzer's mandate, as originally presented, showed great promise. To accomplish the good things he said he stood for, he will need to make sure that Day 210 -- and all the days after -- look more like what he promised for Day 1.

Messenger Post Newspapers, Canandaigua, N.Y.

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